Match Preview

Next up - FC Clacton away on Saturday, 25th August at The Rush Green Bowl, Rush Green Road, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex CO16 7BQ; FA Cup preliminary round, kick off 3pm.

Adults - £7, Concessions - £4, Under 18s - £2.

I remember seaside outings to Clacton as a child with the coach parking up in a large area next to Clacton Town's ground. They were in the Southern League then and getting decent crowds I should imagine especially in 1960 when they entertained Southend United in the FA Cup first round.

Times change and the renamed FC Clacton now play on the edge of the town and are back in the Eastern Counties League of which they were founder members along with, amongst others, Ipswich Town in 1935.

In this season's FA Cup Clacton won through the extra preliminary round in a "home" replay. Having drawn away to Kirkley & Pakefield ground difficulties led the FA to direct that the replay be played back at Kirkley. That didn't seem to upset Clacton too much who eased through by 3-2.

We have met in the Cup just once before, losing 1-0 away in a first qualifying round match on 19th September 1981. There have been two friendlies as well with a 2-2 draw at Ware in 1974 and a 5-1 away defeat the following pre-season. So we'll be looking for our first victory over the Seasiders.

Clacton play in blue and white meaning we will be in our change strip on Saturday.

If the match is drawn please note that the replay will not be until Tuesday, September 4th to allow our Bank Holiday league fixture to go ahead.

The winners of this tie will receive £2,890 from the prize fund whilst the losers will pocket £960.